Movable tamping machines for railroads

ABSTRACT

A tamping machine for railroad beds comprises a car running on the rails of the railway and a plurality of individually operable tamping devices mounted on a common carrier in the car and means for moving the carrier relative to the car so that while they are in operation the tamping devices are moved rearwardly relative to the car at the same speed that the car is moving forwardly on the rails. The tamping devices are thus stationary relative to the ground while operating even though the car is moving. When a tamping device has completed its tamping operation, it is raised and moved forwardly in the car to a position where it is again lowered to operating position. Rapid and continuous tamping of the road bed is thereby achieved.

United States Patent 1 191 Sieke et al.-

[451 Feb. 20, 1973 [76] inventors: [lei-It Sieke, An der Truft 5, Wu]- ferode; Rainer Sieke, Dorfstr. 36,

lsernhagen, both of Germany [22] Filed: May 14, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 143,365

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 16, 1970 Germany ..P 20 24 168.3

[52] U.S. Cl. ..l04/l2, 94/50 [5!] Int. Cl. ..E01b 27/16 [58] Field Search ..l04/12, l0, 11; 94/48, 50

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,504,535 4/ 1970 Stewart et a] 104/12 2,938,439 5/1960 Robison ..l04/ 12 3,595,170 7/1971 Planer etal ..l04/l2 3,380,395 4/ 1968 Planer et al 104/12 2,497,682 2/1950 Mertz ..l04/ 12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1213,: Is 9/1955 Germany ..i04/l2 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Richard A. Bertsch Attorney-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel J. Lobato [57] ABSTRACT A tamping machine for railroad beds comprise-Isa car running on the rails of the railway and a plurality of individually operable tamping devices mounted on a common carrier in the car and means for moving the carrier relative to the car so that while they are in operation the tamping devices are moved rearwardly relative to the car at the same speed that the car is moving forwardly on the rails. The tamping devices are thus stationary relative to the ground while operating even though the car is moving. When a tamping device has completed its tamping operation, it is raised and moved forwardly in the car to a position where it is again lowered to operating position. Rapid and continuous tamping of the road bed is thereby achieved.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 7 j 3.717.100 I SHEET'IOFS, v

PATENTED FEB 2 75 SHEET 0F 5 fig. 4

SHEET 5 [IF 5 PATENTED MOVABLE TAMPING MACHINES FOR RAILROADS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to movable tamping machines for railroads and is more specifically drawn to devices for tamping comprising several tampers spaced apart from one another.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART Known machines for tamping the road bed are equipped with several tamping devices which are mounted on the truck or chassis of a rail car and are movable in the direction of the roadbed. In the known tamping machines, the tamping devices are constructed integral with the truck or chassis as a unit which is movable in both directions of the track. During the tamping operation the truck remains stationary and is moved to a new position once the operation has been completed. This process is then repeated. Thus, in operating these tamping machines, the unit is moved and stopped stepwise along the roadbed until the operation is completed.

The continual stopping of the car, the following sinking of the tamping tools into the ballast of the roadbed and the raising of the tamping tools after completion of the tamping operation result in the known tamping machines having a limited speed of operation even when they have a large number of simultaneously operating tamping devices. On a heavily used line this is a serious disadvantage because of the resulting slowdown in the traffic. Furthermore, when the tamping operation is done on a main line, the slow rate of operation frequently results in having to stop the tamping operation, leaving many stretches of track untouched with a consequent loss of support for the ties. Even when the operation is continued, it is often not possible to give sufficient time and attention to the operation so that many portions of the bed are treated insufficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention avoids these disadvantages and provides a continuously operating roadbed tamping machine. The invention stems from a recognition that through a continuously forwardly moving tamping machine an unexpectedly great increase in efficiency is obtained because not only is the time for starting, moving forward and stopping of the vehicle is saved, but also because at the same time tamping devices can plunge into the ballast at the beginning of their operation and be withdrawn out of the roadbed at the end while other tamping devices are carrying out their tamping operation.

In accordance with the invention the tamping devices are arranged on a common movable carrier which is provided in the vehicle and is moved rearwardly at the same speed that the vehicle is moved forwardly. Thus the vehicle can move forwardly continuously during the operation of the tamping devices. During this continuous movement of the vehicle some of the tamping devices are stationary over the roadbed and perform their tamping operation as well as the to and fro movement incident thereto.

There are many different possibilities of building apparatus in which a carrier for the tamping devices in the vehicle is moved rearwardly relative to the vehicle at the same speed that the vehicle moves forwardly.

One such embodiment comprises a large revolving wheel which serves as a carrier for a plurality of movable tampers which are dropped continuously one after another to operating position and similarly raised after contact has been made with the roadbed.

Another embodiment of the device comprises a revolving chain whose links serve as supports for the tampers. This construction has an advantage in that a plurality of tampers can be brought into direct contact with the roadbed at substantially the same time, so that in this manner there is provided a movable tamping device having an especially high operating speed. Therefore, a large number of tampers are not required. The wheels on which the chain moves may be of small diameter so that the endless chain may be relatively short.

Another embodiment provides tamping devices individually guided by rails and moved by a common chain or a common wheel mechanism.

In general, the tampers are stabilized by their weight and the pairing of the tamping tools, so that a special arrangement to provide a continual alignment of the tampers during operation is usually unnecessary.

Should it be necessary to adjust the alignment, several means are available either to provide the adjustment or to keep the deviation uniform.

One such means provides two large revolving wheels having vertical axes arranged one above the other.

Another means provides a chain transmission operating between a stationary cogwheel and a cogwheel fixed to the tamping device.

Still another means for providing alignment uses three interacting gear wheels having the same number of teeth. The central one is in a fixed position, the second is attached to the tamping device, and rotatable on a centrally journaled carrier on which at the same time the third gear wheel is rotatably arranged.

When the endless chain whose links support the tampers is used, the problem of alignments is readily solved by rails which guide the chain links carrying the working tools.

In order that the apparatus will also operate properly on curves, it is desirable to be able to drive the tamping devices arranged on the two rails independently of one another.

In order not to interrupt the continuous operation of the machine when there are cable conduits or the like under the roadbed it is desirable for the height of the tools to be individually adjustable so that the tools do not go down at a place where there is a conduit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more fully understood from the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of the devices.

FIG. 1 illustrates a movable tamping machine in which the tampers are caused and moved by an endless chain;

FIG. 2 illustrates a tamping machine in which the tampers are suspended from a large wheel;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one of the tampers of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates means for maintaininga proper alignment of the tamping device; and

FIG. illustrates another means of maintaining such alignment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the vehicle or car 1 in FIG. 1 carries two revolving wheels 2 which carry an endless chain 3. Each link of this chain serves to carry a tamper 4 comprised of two tamping picks 5 and a hydraulic driving mechanism 6. At the front end of the car the tampers come into contact with the roadbed. In the middle of the car the tamping is performed, and in the rear of the car the tampers are raised from the roadbed. By use of a hydraulic driving mechanism for the tampers there is no difficulty in stopping the movement of the tamping device so that only those tampers which are in contact with the roadbed continue to operate. An especially high rate of work is possible with this arrangement since at times from four to five tampers are operating simultaneously. Meanwhile no time is lost by the raising and lowering of the tampers. An additional advantage from the use of this device resides in the lower headroom. The revolving wheels may be placed relatively lower which is of benefit in that no consideration need be given to overhead electric cables. Inside the car there are rails 8 which serve as guides and supports for the tamping device and engage the links of the chain to keep the tamping devices in proper alignment. The rate of revolution of the chain corresponds to the speed of the car so that the tamping devices are in stationary positions when working.

FIG. 2 shows another mechanism which uses a large wheel 9 to carry the tampers. The circumferential speed of the wheel corresponds to the speed of the car la. I-Iere also, the tampers are sunk into the roadbed 7 for a time. While one tamper is operating another tamper is about to be lowered into the roadbed while the tamper which has completed its work is being lifted. As is shown in FIG. 3, each tamper is provided with an individual operating cylinder 10 so that the tampers can be kept in a raised position when necessary, for example when a cable conduit under the roadbed is not to be disturbed.

FIG. 4 illustrates the use of a fixed gear 16, a gear 17 attached to the tamper, and a chain 18 to maintain proper alignment of the mechanism when the tamper is suspended from and moved by a wheel as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates another means for keeping the tamper in proper alignment when the tamper is suspended from a wheel. The tamper is provided with a pair of rollers 20 and 21 which move on a pair of nonconcentric rails 19 and 19a.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the car and the tamping device are driven by the same motor 22 through a gear box 23. Shaft 24 is connected to the wheels of the tamping device and shaft 25 to the wheels of the car. By means of gears in the gear box it is possible to continually vary the speeds of the shafts 24 and 25.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent are:

l. A tamping machine for railway roadbeds comprising a vehicle movable along the rails, means for moving said vehicle along the rails at a selected speed, carrier means provided in said vehicle, a plurality of tamping devices carried in selected fixed relation on said carrier means, each of said tamping devices comprising a tamping tool and driving means for operating said tool, said carrier means including at least one rotatable wheel means mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the vehicle and means for rotating said wheel means to move said tamping devices continuously in a closed circuit comprising in sequence a lower portion in which said tamping devices are in operative position relative to said roadbed and are moved rearwardly of the vehicle at a speed equal to the forward speed of the vehicle, a rear portion in which said tamping devices are raised to inoperative position, an upper portion in which said tamping devices are moved forwardly of the vehicle and a forward portion in which said tamping devices are lowered toward operative positions, means for mounting each of said tamping devices individually on said carrier to position said device with its tamping tool down, and means for individually operating said tamping devices when in operative position to tamp said roadbed.

2. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which said carrier means comprises a large wheel on the periphery of which said tamping devices are mounted, said wheel being mounted in said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to said vehicle.

3. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which said carrier means comprises a link chain running on two wheels spaced forwardly and rearwardly respectively in said vehicle and rotating about horizontal axis transverse of said vehicle, said tamping devices being mounted on links of said chain.

4. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which the means for operating said tamping devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each said tamping device and control means for selectively supplying pressure fluid to said cylinders to actuate said tamping devices individually and selectively.

5. A tamping machine according to claim I, comprising means for guiding and holding said tamping devices in a selected direction with their tamping tools down when in operative position.

6. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said guiding and holding means comprise spaced guiding rails along which said tamping devices are movable.

7. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means is a large wheel on which said tamping devices are pivotally mounted and in which said guiding and holding means comprises a first sprocket coaxial with said wheel, a second sprocket fixed to each said tamping device and coaxial with said pivotal mounting and a chain interconnecting said first and second sprockets.

8. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means comprises a link chain on the links of which said tamping devices are mounted and in which said guiding and holding means comprises means for guiding the links of said chain.

9. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means and said guiding and holding means comprises two large wheels rotatable on horizontal axis transverse of said vehicle and disposed vertically one above another, each said tamping device being pivotally connected to both of said wheels in such a manner that it is held vertical when in operative position.

10. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said guiding and holding means comprises three intermeshing gears of which the first gear is centrally disposed and stationary, the second gear is fixed to the tamping device and the third gear is rotatably mounted 5 on a carrier which is rotatable about an axis concentric with said first gear. 

1. A tamping machine for railway roadbeds comprising a vehicle movable along the rails, means for moving said vehicle along the rails at a selected speed, carrier means provided in said vehicle, a plurality of tamping devices carried in selected fixed relation on said carrier means, each of said tamping devices comprising a tamping tool and driving means for operating said tool, said carrier means including at least one rotatable wheel means mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the vehicle and means for rotating said wheel means to move said tamping devices continuously in a closed circuit comprising in sequence a lower portion in which said tamping devices are in operative position relative to said roadbed and are moved rearwardly of the vehicle at a speed equal to the forward speed of the vehicle, a rear portion in which said tamping devices are raised to inoperative position, an upper portion in which said tamping devices are moved forwardly of the vehicle and a forward portion in which said tamping devices are lowered toward operative positions, means for mounting each of said tamping devices individually on said carrier to position said device with its tamping tool down, and means for individually operating said tamping devices when in operative position to tamp said roadbed.
 1. A tamping machine for railway roadbeds comprising a vehicle movable along the rails, means for moving said vehicle along the rails at a selected speed, carrier means provided in said vehicle, a plurality of tamping devices carried in selected fixed relation on said carrier means, each of said tamping devices comprising a tamping tool and driving means for operating said tool, said carrier means including at least one rotatable wheel means mounted on said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to the direction of movement of the vehicle and means for rotating said wheel means to move said tamping devices continuously in a closed circuit comprising in sequence a lower portion in which said tamping devices are in operative position relative to said roadbed and are moved rearwardly of the vehicle at a speed equal to the forward speed of the vehicle, a rear portion in which said tamping devices are raised to inoperative position, an upper portion in which said tamping devices are moved forwardly of the vehicle and a forward portion in which said tamping devices are lowered toward operative positions, means for mounting each of said tamping devices individually on said carrier to position said device with its tamping tool down, and means for individually operating said tamping devices when in operative position to tamp said roadbed.
 2. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which said carrier means comprises a large wheel on the periphery of which said tamping devices are mounted, said wheel being mounted in said vehicle for rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to said vehicle.
 3. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which said carrier means comprises a link chain running on two wheels spaced forwardly and rearwardly respectively in said vehicle and rotating about horizontal axis transverse of said vehicle, said tamping devices being mounted on links of said chain.
 4. A tamping machine according to claim 1, in which the means for operating said tamping devices comprises a hydraulic cylinder for each said tamping device and control means for selectively supplying pressure fluid to said cylinders to actuate said tamping devices individually and selectively.
 5. A tamping machine according to claim 1, comprising means for guiding and holding said tamping devices in a selected direction with their tamping tools down when in operative position.
 6. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said guiding and holding means comprise spaced guiding rails along which said tamping devices are movable.
 7. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means is a large wheel on which said tamping devices are pivotally mounted and in which said guiding and holding means comprises a first sprocket coaxial with said wheel, a second sprocket fixed to each said tamping device and coaxial with said pivotal mounting and a chain interconnecting said first and second sprockets.
 8. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means comprises a link chain on the links of which said tamping devices are mounted and in which said guiding and holding means comprises means for guiding the links of said chain.
 9. A tamping machine according to claim 5, in which said carrier means and said guiding and holding means comprises two large wheels rotatable on horizontal axis transverse of said vehicle and disposed vertically one above another, each said tamping device being pivotally connected to both of said wheels in such a manner that it is held vertical when in operative position. 